What to do with orphan graduate credits?

Excelsior saved me when I was an undergraduate and gave me a place to pull together assorted credits...the BLS was golden! Now I have two sets of misfit graduate credits, 18 in history and 15 in public administration. Does anyone have ideas where I might put these to use? It doesn't have to be a perfect fit for either set. The only thing I can think of is to credit-bank them on my Excelsior transcript.

 

Well, there is limitation on transfering to master level. Try Western New Mexico State University on Master program.

 

You could put them towards a second bachelors degree from TESC
(just a thought but maybe you could combine these two areas for a Learner Designed Area of Study http://www.tesc.edu/6503.php if you can think of one - for example one used in a public museum or library).

 

Thanks for the advice Tekman and Ian! I was unaware of the Tesc program. It seems to fit my situation perfectly!

 

American Military University will let you transfer in 15 graduate credits. Perhaps that is an option if TESC doesn't work out.

 

Good luck with that. I don't think WNMU has all their kinks worked out. I've been trying to transfer in 6 credits, which is the max allowed, and I feel like they're giving me the run around.

-Matt

 

I thought you couldn't use graduate credit for an undergrad degree @ any of the big three? If I had 18 graduate credits in Education and 12 UG graduate credits in Education could you make anything from that @ TESC? Does TESC really allow you to use graduate credits?

 

Thanks for the advice. I think I want to bury these surplus credits somewhere, and push on toward something that offers a chance for a second career. History is a great subject, but I've finally realized I can just keep it as a hobby and read the books I like for free. The TESC suggestion above might do the trick. I'd never considered that some undergraduate programs accept graduate transfer credits. TESC, it turns out, will take 30 semester hours, how nice. It might be a worthwhile mental health exercise to pay the fees, send the transcripts to Tesc, and put those credits to rest before moving on.

 

I transfered in 6 credits. What I did was talk to the advisor and I had to send in course descriptions of the courses that I took at the original university. She matched them to the courses that WNMU offered and then once the two classes were approved I had to put them on my degree plan.

 

Big Surprise!

I was surprised too! Here's the policy:

"Acceptance of Credits from Graduate Programs

Thomas Edison State College will accept a maximum of 30 credits of graduate work to apply to an undergraduate program."

http://catalog.tesc.edu/content.php?catoid=1&navoid=9

 

What would prevent someone from transferring in 30 graduate credits before finishing their graduate degree, pick up a second bachelors and then finish the last 6 credits to finish their graduate degree?

 

That move is usually a rule violation

Generally, schools have rules against using your credits for multiple purposes. Once you use the credits for a final degree they're dead credits, unless the degree they become part of fits into a higher degree. For example, you can use the credits in your AS degree toward your BS or all of your master's credits can still go toward your doctorate.

 

I figured it was a violation of the rules but I guess it just comes down to morals as I don't see how that can be enforced.

 

This is a true fact. 15 are accepted and 9 can be used towards core requirements of graduate degrees.

http://www.apus.edu/TransferCredit/accepted/graduate/

 

Since you already have a positive track record with Excelsior, why do you not consider Excelsior's Mast of Arts in Liberal Studies, which allows you to transfer up to 15 credits into the program.

https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_College/School_of_Liberal_Arts/Master_of_Arts_Degree_in_Liberal_Studies

 

Thanks for the advice. For some reason I'd never considered that program, but I was looking it over and it's a nice solution to my situation. I think I'd have to take 4 classes before starting the thesis phase. Excelsior has always been a good place for me.